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the current pace of life demands speedy solutions from the food industry. the ready meals market in western europe, one of the strongest performing areas of the food sector worth €7.3 billion in 2001, is set to grow to €8.7 billion by 2006. a new consumer insight programme, the result of consumer surveys, focus groups and interviews from market analysts datamonitor, presents ten key consumer insights for ready meal, prepared pizza and meal kit players.

marks & spencer's decision to launch its first ever range of ingredients for home cooking taps into some of the key consumer trends in food: convenience and a desire to know what is in the food we eat. there has been a considerable backlash against artificial additives in packaged foods in the light of negative publicity on certain colours and preservatives, not least last year's southampton study, which linked certain additive cocktails to hyperactivity in children.

as the pressures of weak consumer spending continues and major uk retailers embark on a promotional war to win shoppers, the lowly loaf of bread is at the centre of a fierce price battle on grocery shelves.and the uk’s three major players in what is a static bread category, premier foods plc, family-owned warburtons and associated british foods, all believe they are holding their own in a category where the recovery has been a longer process than expected.

in spite of the global downturn, 2009 turned out to be an eventful year for the food industry. economic recovery, albeit a slow and slightly faltering one, should bring equally if not more interesting times. ben cooper looks at what is likely to be dominating the headlines in the coming year. as 2009 closes and the food industry prepares for a well-earned break - and a chance to consume far too much of its own product - attention inevitably turns to what might be dominating the headlines over the next 12 months.

the growth in ageing populations across europe is opening up potential for food and drink manufacturers, according to research from datamonitor, and companies could end up reformulating products just to target the over 50s. the 50+ age group is becoming a key demographic with strong spending power that cannot be ignored, said matthew taylor, consumer market analyst at datamonitor, and co-author of a series of new datamonitor reports on senior consumers.

as time-pressed italians and mediterranean interest from abroad are driving growth in the italian food sector, dsm food specialties is positioning to grow sales of its bakery enzymes and savoury ingredients with the appointment of azelis as its distributor. dsm has been active in the italian market for many years, both selling directly and through distributors. it has worked with azelis in the past on beverage enzyme, but the new agreement extends bakery enzymes and savoury ingredients as well.

the ready meals market is anything but on its way out, as manufacturers tap into healthy trends and revitalise products once seen as favoured by 'couch potatoes' and people with no time to pay attention to proper healthy eating. according to a new report from mintel called "eating habits: improving the appeal of convenience options in europe", the ready meals market in germany, france, uk, italy and spain is worth €8.

the trend for 'clean label' foods containing few e-numbers is emanating from the uk market but it is not yet a keen priority for consumers, retailers and manufacturers in every country, says gc hahn. e-numbers are used on food product labels throughout the eu and refer to additives - be they colours, preservatives, antioxidants, acidity regulators, thickeners, stabilisers, emulsifiers, anti caking agents, flavour enhancers or other miscellaneous ingredients.

warranted or not, it comes as no surprise to learn that there is growing concern among uk consumers over food safety. according to new research from mintel, 41 per cent of adults were concerned about the safety of food in 1997, while in 2002 this figure has risen to 44 per cent of consumers. the report revealed that there is a considerable difference in attitude between men and women with over half of women (51 per cent) worried about food safety, compared to just 36 per cent of men.